Meta Announces Over 11,000 Job Cuts as Zuckerberg Apologizes

What’s happening at Meta?

Social media giant Meta has announced its first major headcount reduction in its history.

The parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp is laying off more than 11,000 employees, or 13 per cent of its workforce, as it grapples with slowing growth.

The cuts come after the The Wall Street Journal reported that the company is looking to cut costs by at least 10 per cent as 2022 winds down.

In mid-June, the company reportedly employed more than 83,000 people, which is up from 48,000 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a LinkedIn analysis obtained by The Globe and Mail, Meta has at least 1,100 staff members in Canada.

While the company’s Canadian office didn’t disclose how many employees are affected, a number of workers took to social media to share that they had been laid off.

Zuckerberg’s message to staff

“Today I’m sharing some of the most difficult changes we’ve made in Meta’s history,” CEO Mark Zuckerberg told workers in a message posted to Facebook on Nov. 9. “I’ve decided to reduce the size of our team by about 13% and let more than 11,000 of our talented employees go.”

“I want to take accountability for these decisions and for how we got here. I know this is tough for everyone, and I’m especially sorry for those impacted.”

Zuckerberg says the decision to cut jobs was made following a failed prediction that e-commerce growth would continue to be strong post-pandemic.

“Not only has online commerce returned to prior trends, but the macroeconomic downturn, increased competition, and ads signal loss have caused our revenue to be much lower than I’d expected.”

What is being impacted

The cuts will affect the following areas within Meta:

• The “Family of Apps” – Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp
• Virtual reality business Reality Labs
• Meta’s business teams

Meta plans to hire fewer employees next year. The social media giant is also extending a hiring freeze into the first quarter of 2023, though some small exceptions will be made.

The layoffs at Meta are the latest in a long line of sweeping cuts that have taken place across the North American tech sector this year.

The company, and several other major companies, including Twitter, Hootsuite, Microsoft, Shopify, and Snap, have substantially reduced their workforces as they continue to monitor market conditions.

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• Intel plans thousands of layoffs for October amid PC plummet
• Employment lawyer on mass layoffs in the tech industry
• Layoffs in Canada

Employee support and next steps

Non-unionized employees in Canada affected by layoffs may be eligible for severance pay, which is determined by several factors, including role, tenure, and age.

Key facts about severance:

• Severance Pay: Can include up to 24 months’ pay in some cases, depending on specific circumstances.
• Components: Severance packages may include salary, bonuses, commissions, and other forms of compensation. Use our free Severance Pay Calculator to estimate what your package should look like.
• Deadlines: Employees have up to two years from their termination date to review and negotiate severance entitlements. Deadlines set by employers for accepting severance offers are not legally enforceable.
• Need guidance? Contact Samfiru Tumarkin LLP for a severance review and expert advice.

Employees affected by the layoffs at Manulife can find additional details about their rights and options in our Manulife Layoffs resource.

WATCH: Employment lawyer Lior Samfiru explains general severance rights on an episode of the Employment Law Show.

Lost your job? Talk to an employment lawyer

If you have been fired or let go for any reason, contact the experienced employment law team at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP. Our lawyers in Ontario, Alberta, and B.C. have successfully represented tens of thousands of non-unionized individuals.

In addition to severance package negotiations, we can assist you on a broad range of employment matters, including:

If you are a non-unionized employee who needs help with a workplace issue, contact us or call 1-855-821-5900 to get the advice you need and the compensation you deserve.

Disclaimer: The materials above are provided as general information about the rights of non-unionized employees in Canada. It is not specific to any one company and should not be read as suggesting any improper conduct on the part of any specific employer, or a relationship between Samfiru Tumarkin LLP and a specific employer.